SPEEDWAY – Surviving a hard shot early in the contest proved vital for Heritage Christian in the Class 2A Speedway sectional Wednesday.

After falling behind by 11 points after one quarter, the Eagles took advantage of sloppy play by Arlington, along with the Knights’ foul trouble to take a 45-37 win at Pollard Gym.

The victory moves Heritage Christian (15-9) into Friday’s second semifinal contest against Park Tudor, which ousted Shortridge, 55-37, in Wednesday’s opener. Washington and Scecina will meet in the opener.

The loss for Arlington means an end of an era as the high school transitions to a middle school.

Heritage Christian coach Corey Jackson warned his team Arlington would come out strong, especially after the Eagles pinned a 69-51 defeat on the Knights back on Jan. 8.

“We felt Arlington was playing the best basketball of anyone in the state in 2A,” Jackson said. “We beat them earlier, so we knew they would come out with a lot of energy.”

That energy manifested itself in an 8-for-10 shooting performance by the Knights in the first quarter that led them out to an 18-7 lead. It was still a nine-point Arlington lead after a Lamonte Hobby basket with 3:41 left before halftime.

From there, the Arlington offense ground to a halt.

“We had three turnovers in a row when we were up by nine,” Arlington coach Don Carlisle lamented. “They got back within one (22-21) at halftime and that was the run they needed.

“I believe that switched the momentum.”

Andrew Williams and Jack Arterburn each canned 3-pointers in that final 3:41 to spark an 8-0 run that made it a one-point game at the break.

Both teams struggled from the field in the third quarter and, while the score was tied twice in the third, Arlington didn’t lose the lead. A Raynald Pantoja layup at the third-quarter buzzer gave the Knights a 29-27 advantage heading into the final eight minutes.

Fouls, however, had already caught up to Arlington as starting guards Hobby and Rizzario Vaughn each picked up their fourth fouls early in the third and both ended up sitting until the 4:37 mark of the fourth quarter.

By that time, Heritage had rallied for a 33-30 lead. Both Vaughn and Hobby eventually fouled out.

With the fouls piling up, the Eagles took advantage of a parade to the free-throw line. Heritage hit 14 of 17 from the line in the fourth quarter, eventually leading by as many as nine points.

“We felt if we could keep it close, our style of game would give us a chance,” Jackson said of his team’s slower tempo. “We started to make free throws in the fourth quarter and that was the difference.”

Williams led all scorers with 17 points for Heritage, including 9-of-13 from the free throw line. Kyle Sommers added 10 points (5-of-6 from the line).

Hobby and Pantoja each had nine points for Arlington, which finishes 13-9.

>> Park Tudor 55, Shortridge 37: In the opener, a game that featured only one senior on the roster between both squads, Park Tudor ran out to a 21-8 lead after one quarter and were never threatened.